Linda Marie Lord, 61, of Grinnell, Iowa passed away on Friday, May 31, 2013, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center with her family by her side. A celebration of life service will be held 1:30 p.m., Friday, June 7, 2013, in the Social Center of St. Francis Manor in Grinnell. Linda provided the gift of life to others through tissue donation. Inurnment will be at the Westfield Cemetery south of Grinnell at a later date. Should friends desire, memorials may be directed to CIRSI or to Heifer International and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Linda Marie Lord was born to Howard and Wilma Lord in Oskaloosa, Iowa on April 2, 1952. Throughout her life, Linda was a blessing to her family and to the many friends she made in the churches that her parents served in Iowa and New Jersey. Her outgoing nature and exuberant joy in life was shared with all she met. Her special "ministry" showed everyone that persons with Down Syndrome are capable, contributing community members. Her full inclusion in the life of the community and church put her at the forefront of the "mainstreaming" movement, and she was proud of being a "case study" in textbooks and scholarly presentations on the topic of family relations and disabilities. Linda enjoyed traveling with her family, meeting new people in new places, and she participated in Exceptional Persons camps and Special Olympics, winning many ribbons and awards for her accomplishments in bowling and softball throw. Linda approached her work with enthusiasm and a fine attention to details, diligently and faithfully providing neatly folded church bulletins for each church service and crafting beautiful hooked rugs and wall hangings. She was always willing to help with any task and was a zestful presence at every church function. She particularly loved children, her pet cat Archie, and supporting the Montezuma Braves. Linda attended school at the Winifred Law Opportunity School in Indianola and continued to sheltered employment in the Winifred Law Opportunity Center (now Christian Opportunity Center). She moved to Tama County in 1978 and to Poweshiek County in 1988 and worked at Mid-Iowa Workshop in Marshalltown and in supported employment in Grinnell until her retirement in 2000. She had been a resident of St. Francis Manor in Grinnell since 2012. Left to celebrate Linda's life are her parents, Howard and Wilma Lord of Indianola, her brothers Russell (Denece) of Billings, MT and Bob (Debra) of Indianola, her sister Laura (Dennis) Oliver of Milo, numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and countless friends. Her family is especially grateful for the care and love lavished on Linda by her St. Francis family and the comfort provided by the Grinnell Regional Hospice and their staff.